County confirms second, third rabies cases of 2013

Alamance County’s second and third rabies cases of the year were confirmed Tuesday, following two scuffles involving raccoons and dogs.

According to a news release, the Alamance County Health Department received confirmation from the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health that two raccoons recently involved in separate altercations with two different dogs tested positive for rabies.

On Friday, a raccoon and dog fought on Troendly Street in the northwest part of the county, and a different raccoon attacked another dog Monday on Bethel Methodist Church Road. Both raccoons tested positive for rabies, and both dogs had to be euthanized since their vaccinations weren’t current, the release states.

The health department’s Environmental Health Specialists visited the northwest part of Alamance County on Tuesday, passing out flyers about the rabies cases and the significance of vaccinations to residents and businesses.

“North Carolina law requires current and up-to-date vaccination of pets against rabies,” Environmental Health Director Carl Carroll said in the release. “Rabies vaccination not only protects your pet but helps keep the people around that pet safe.”

In 2012, there were six rabies cases in Alamance County, and a total of 432 cases statewide.

For more information about rabies control, vaccination requirements or upcoming clinics, call the health department’s Environmental Health office at 336-570-6367.